Young guns square off as Timberwolves' Derrick Williams takes on Cavs' Kyrie Irving

St. Paul Pioneer Press | Jan 6

Kyrie Irving has the burden of replacing the legacy LeBron James abandoned in Cleveland. Derrick Williams is merely trying to make the most of his opportunities behind two talented forwards - one an all-star, the other a former No. 2 draft pick himself.

Though Williams admits he would like to play more in his rookie season with the Timberwolves, he wouldn't trade places with Irving, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

"There's more pressure on Kyrie, but I feel he's doing a great job and getting a lot of minutes," said Williams, the No. 2 pick in the draft. "Overall, his team is a lot better with him. We both ended up in the right spots."

In the years to come, Irving and Williams will be measured on how they helped transform their teams as high-profile selections in a draft considered short on marquee talent. No prospects in the 2011 draft generated as much conversation and hype as Irving and Williams. For many experts, they were the draft, and the Timberwolves and Cavaliers would be getting a prominent player no matter which direction they went.

The two will be on display tonight for the first time in their NBA careers at Target Center. Irving has started all six games for Cleveland (3-3) at point guard, while Williams is being used off the bench at both forward spots behind Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft.